This week’s theme is “I Love _____.” Well, when I started birding, I disliked sparrows because they seemed plain and all looked the same. Now, I truly appreciate the small differences between the sparrows and I can say that I “love” them.

From top to bottom, Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) [photo missing], and Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). I always had a tough time distinguishing these related sparrows (still do), but this post should help. They all have a similar head (at least to the amateur, like me), but the Swamp Sparrow has the plain chest, Lincoln’s Sparrow has the chest stripes but no spot, and the Song Sparrow has the chest stripes and the central chest spot. Another way to distinguish the Lincoln’s and Song Sparrow is that Lincoln’s upper breast is buff colored, while the Song Sparrow’s upper breast is white.

amazing sparrow pictures! Was going through my RSS feeds that have not posting anything in a while and found you have moved! I have made the updates and now I can enjoy your photos again!

http://carverblog.blogspot.com/ carver

Those are beautiful shots. I hope you have a pleasant
weekend.

http://gracedbychrist.com Heather

Lovely shots. I love sparrows. They are so simple yet so precious.

http://redsoxmommy.blogspot.com Natalie

Beautiful shots! My photo hunt is up too!

http://mlizcochico.blogspot.com liza

Great choice. I can relate to you. I’m breeding African Love birds and Finches. Have a happy weekend!

http://justmyrambling.com/ BlurMommy

Wow, beautiful photos! Happy weekend!

http://simplyjews.blogspot.com/ SnoopyTheGoon

As always, grateful to you for sharing. Lovely, professional and beautiful.

http://webs-of-significance.blogspot.com YTSL

Lovely pictures, one and all!

http://chen22.blogspot.com Chen

Great shots. I can’t differentiate nor distinguish those sparrows (i mean which is which) 😉

http://meeyauw.blogspot.com/ Andrée

That happened to me, too! I went to the Audobon spring count and would begin to yawn when they talked sparrows (I was only along for photos and ignored sparrows). But then I got a couple of sparrow shots and realized I knew nothing and there were so many. There are different seasons and climates and habitats for them. Now I am becoming obsessed with them. I got a ton of sparrow shots in New Haven in October and noticed that different species hang together like they are kin. I have starred this post for future identifications.

http://northviewdiary.blogspot.com/ threecollie

Stumbled on your blog via a link exchange, BlogMad I think, and I just love it. Wonderful bird photos…the sparrow comparison is great. I bookmarked you for future visits. Thanks

http://maremag.blogspot.com Mar

What a lovely choice for the theme, beautiful pictures as always…

http://www.iowavoice.com Moe

Thank you for all the comments!

http://edaleputt.blogspot.com Iowa Gardening Woman

Great photos as always, there are some interesting native sparrows out there which most people are not even aware of, all they know are the English and house sparrows.

I must join the photo hunt one of these days, it looks like so much fun!

http://www.slybird.blogspot.com Nick

I hate to say it, but your “Lincoln’s Sparrow” is actually a Song Sparrow.

Cheers,
Nick

http://www.iowavoice.com Moe

Hmmm, the photo I had up… you may be right. So I changed it to more obviously a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Thanks!